The brother with me at the D.H. yesterday stated to the boys that, in the Bible, the first person you have sex with becomes your wife, and that any sexual relationship with any other person is adultery, in God's eyes. The boys, of course, were incredulous, and realized that there was no hope for most of them of getting back together with their "wives," since both those girls as well as themselves have pretty much thrown that possibility away.

It was a good word. But I also stated that each of us in some way is a "hopeless" case, and that in such hopeless situations God is able to show something of who He is and what He can do. He has allowed Satan to do what he can; now He needs us to allow Him to display what He is capable of in response. One boy I hadn't seen there for awhile came to me afterward and admitted to being addicted to sex (as well as drugs and alcohol). A number of the boys would probably place themselves in that category.

What follows only kind of relates:

The last time I substituted at a local high school I picked up a book titled My Darling, My Hamburger which is about the experience of a teenage girl set in the seventies. I was struck with how the book rang so true from the female perspective. I felt it would be a good book for my daughters to read as a cautionary tale. Another book that falls into this category is Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, which I skimmed through a few days afterward at another subbing job in which I had a lot of free time (amazing how much time I have to read). I didn't read it carefully, but all young people should be warned about what can happen at a party, and statistically what often DOES happen at parties. Anderson's book depicts the experiences and mental state of the girl who has undergone the worst-case scenario. It provides both a cautionary tale and grants some insight into the kind of suffering and alienation that can follow.

Her later book Catalyst, however, which I also skimmed through, seemed to have been written in order to show that relationships with boys aren't BAD. It seems more Juno-esque. I was deeply disappointed that Andeerson caves to the status quo just as every other author for young people who desires to be published.

I wish someone would argue the wisdom of keeping one's self for one's future husband or wife, rather than cheating on that person before you have even met him or her. Anderson herself seems to recognize that inevitably even most intimate high school relationships are likely to end after graduation.

Why should "just follow your heart" trump doing what's best for everyone concerned?

I should throw in this coincidence before I forget it...

I had substituted at an "inner city" high school and just showed every class a video of a House episode (of the famous doctor solving the problem). That night I watched another House episode. The next morning, for some reason I was thinking about how House was ALWAYS able to solve EVERY problem.

My kids had on the PBS show Curious George. Just at that moment, I heard the Man in the Yellow Hat say:

"I know. House rules, right?" (referring to the rules of their household)


It is times like that that have caused me to wonder if I am in a dream of my own making.

Add OWL CITY to the list to tangential Christian singers:

like his soul-mate Sufjan Stevens.

Well...as being a Christian becomes more and more unpopular,
maybe that's the only way they can make it.